The latest fan production from the “Star Trek: Phase II” people (formerly New Voyages) is out today.  This is part one of their latest film.  Read below what they have to say about this latest production and click HERE to see it yourself.

“Blood and Fire: Part One”, will be released on December 20, 2008 as a holiday gift to fans. The fourth episode completed by Star Trek: New Voyages, and the first produced under the Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II moniker, “Blood and Fire” was written by Carlos Pedraza and David Gerrold, based on an original TNG script by David Gerrold.

The horrific story finds a battle damaged Enterprise caught between an incurable contagion that threatens to overrun the galaxy, the pull of a dying star, and Klingons poised to attack. Like all of the best Star Trek episodes, “Blood and Fire” finds the Enterprise crew facing their own human fears and failings as they have to weigh the costs and decide how much personal risk to take in order to save the people around them.

Gerrold wrote the story of contagion as a metaphor for the AIDS pandemic and the episode is dedicated to the gifted Star Trek alumni the world has lost to the disease: William Ware Theiss, Mike Minor and Merritt Butrick. It was also Gerrold’s intention to challenge the apathy of the public regarding the small sacrifice, yet far reaching power, of blood donations. Based on an original TNG script that was shelved because of the mention of a gay crewman aboard the Enterprise, “Blood and Fire” for Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II honors Gene Roddenberry’s vision of a non-judgmental future with the inclusion of a gay couple as part of the principle action of the story.

David Gerrold directed the episode which features guest stars Denise Crosby (“Tasha Yar” from TNG), Bill Blair and Evan Fowler; and reintroduces the character of Captain Kirk’s nephew, Peter, played by Bobby Rice. The anticipated release of the conclusion “Blood and Fire: Part Two”, episode 5, is expected in the near future.

The first lady of “Star Trek” and Gene Roddenberry’s wife passed away today at the age of 76 at her home.  Majel first worked on the original pilot for “Star Trek” and of course eventually went on to play Nurse Chapel in the original series and Lwaxana Troi on The Next Generation.  She is survived by her only son Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry.  Majel was always very kind to the fans and did so much for “Star Trek” over the years it’s hard to think of her being gone now.  She will be greatly missed.  The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in her name to the CARE Organization or Precious Paws both of which share Roddenberry’s love for animals and dedication to animal rescue.  More information can be found HERE.

Great tribute video below….

The roving “Star Trek: The Experience” is coming to my hometown of Detroit!  Starting in mid Feruary 2009 and running all the until next September at the Detroit Science Center.  I’m so excited to see this exhibit!  Here’s a copy of the Detroit Free Press article on the subject:

With its signature opening and legendary characters, “Star Trek” has transmitted through millions of TV screens for four decades, embedding itself into the American consciousness.

And now, after beaming classic one-liners and futuristic ideas throughout pop culture, “Star Trek” is to land in Detroit.

“Star Trek: The Exhibition” is to make its first Midwest stop at the Detroit Science Center beginning Feb. 14, the museum is to announce today. Tickets are to go on sale Friday, in time for people to buy as Christmas gifts for their favorite Trekkies.

“We are thrilled to be the first Midwest venue for the exhibit,” said Todd Slisher, vice president of science programs at the museum. “I think it’s one of the major blockbuster exhibitions traveling around the country.”

The 9,000-square-foot exhibit features re-creations of the bridge of the famed Starship Enterprise, Capt. Jean-Luc Picard’s quarters, the command chair and the transporter room.

It includes two flight simulators, a model of the USS Enterprise used for shooting starship scenes and a collection of authentic props and uniforms used throughout the five “Star Trek” TV series, a cartoon show and 10 feature films.

“From a Science Center perspective, this is a great exhibit because ‘Star Trek’ really launched future ideas in technology,” said Slisher, pointing out that the “Star Trek” communicator begat ideas for modern cell phones.

Companion show

John Schroer, the museum’s planetarium education coordinator and a faithful “Star Trek” fan since the 1960s, is working on a companion planetarium show that will take audiences to stars and space objects mentioned or visited in the Star Trek series, such as the Andromeda galaxy; the Deneb star; the red dwarf star, Wolf 359, and the Orion nebula.

Much of the work for the exhibit, organized by Premier Exhibitions in Atlanta, was done by the set designers and producers who worked on the “Star Trek” TV series and feature films. The series, which has stretched 42 years, brought the nation catchphrases like “Beam me up, Scotty” and “Live long and prosper.” But it also increased ethnic diversity on television in a time of 1960s racial turbulence and gave Americans a picture of an optimistic future in the midst of the Cold War.

“These sets are re-creations, but in some ways, it’s even a little bit better than being on the set,” said Michael Okuda of Los Angeles, who worked on six of the movies, as well as the Next Generation, Voyager and Enterprise series, and did some graphic design for the exhibition.

“On the set, there are usually pieces of wall missing and in the space where they aren’t filming is full of lights and equipment and stuff. Here, it’s dressed and lit in its entirety,” he said.

The exhibition is to will travel to Detroit from the San Diego Air & Space Museum, where it made its national premiere in June. A slightly smaller version of the exhibit, said Detroit Science Center spokeswoman Kelly Fulford, opened at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix in November.

Good timing

“Star Trek: The Exhibition” is scheduled to run at the Detroit Science Center from Feb. 14 to Sept. 7, meaning that it will coincide with the May opening of the already hyped “Star Trek” film directed by “Lost” creator J.J. Abrams.

The film, predicted Fulford, “will bring in a whole new generation of Trekkies” to the exhibition.

For Jan Pawlik, 46, of Westland, a neurosurgical nurse at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and ardent “Star Trek” fan, the traveling exhibit helps make up for the closing in September of the 65,000-square-foot “Star Trek: The Experience,” a longtime attraction in the Las Vegas Hilton.

Plus, it’s a chance for more metro Detroiters to get involved.

She envisions her local “Star Trek” club, the 100-member USS Intrepid, checking out the exhibit as a group, as it did for the one in Las Vegas. She said that if the Science Center needs help, she’ll don her blue-and-black Starfleet Medical Section uniform and get out her Klingon bat’leth weapon for the kids.

“Absolutely, I’m excited,” said Pawlik. “The models and the props used in the movies and especially in the original series, those items are worth thousands of dollars.”

She said she hopes the movie will bring in more casual fans and help “revitalize the franchise,” which has waned since UPN canceled “Star Trek: Enterprise” in 2005 after four seasons.

What stands out about “Star Trek: The Exhibition,” said Okuda, is a delight people experience when stepping into an environment that otherwise has been portrayed only on the big and little screens.

“To step on these re-created sets,” he said, “and be surrounded by the Enterprise bridge or by the transporter room, you get this powerful sense of what it must have been like to boldly go into the cosmos.”

This is pretty funny stuff.  Listen to William Shatner recount his Thanksgiving cooking tales via YouTube with his wife and daughter.  Bill has always liked cooking (remember him on the “Iron Chef” stuff).  It’s fun to see him talk non-Trek stuff a bit and be casual about things.  You go Bill!!

Well, only about a week and half after the first full “Star Trek” trailer appeared online we get now a new version.  This one is about 99% the same as the previous trailer, with just a few minor edits but with one very cool addition to the end of it – Spock!  Yes, as has been long reported back even when the movie was first announced Leonard Nimoy is in the movie and shows up in full “Spock-mode” at the end of the reworked trailer.  It’s great to see and even though it’s almost impossible now, I’m even more excited and pumped to see the film.  Below are a couple of links to the HD version of the trailer and a Youtube version of it.

http://downloads.paramount.com/mp/startrek/Trlr2_internet_1080p.mov

http://downloads.paramount.com/mp/startrek/Trlr2_internet_720p.mov

http://downloads.paramount.com/mp/startrek/Trlr2_internet_480p.mov

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Well, the wait is finally over.  Last Friday in theaters and yesterday online the brand new, approximately 2 minute full trailer for next May’s “Star Trek” movie made it’s debut.  There has been much discussion already about what is shown in this trailer and I’m sure more talk will follow over the next couple of months until we get to see more.  I am extremely excited and happy with what is shown and still firmly believe this movie is going to be not just a good Trek movie but an exceptional film as well.  I can’t wait!

Well, the new look of the Enterprise showed up online a couple of days ago.  I have to say it’s about what I expected.  A more sleek, souped-up version of the big girl.  I never thought for a minute that it would look very close to the TOS Enterprise.  Lots of reaction to this so far – but in a way that’s all good because it shows people are still excited and passionate about “Star Trek.”  And again, no matter what the Enterprise looks like as long as the movie is solid with a good story it really isn’t a big deal.  I mean how many Batmobiles have there been over the years?  😉

It looks very, very likely now that the “Star Trek: Experience” in Las Vegas is getting a new home and new lease on life.  It is being reported it will move to “Neonopolis.”  Read the following story posted over by our our friends at trekmovie.com….

Last month we reported that Star Trek The Experience (which closed its doors at the Las Vegas Hilton in September) may be resurrected at a new location. Since that time TrekMovie as well as local Las Vegas journalists have confirmed that Star Trek The Experience is moving to a new home at Neonopolis, in downtown Las Vegas.  Today some new details have emerged.

The New (Old) Star Trek The Experience
In Business Las Vegas has a new feature story on the future of the Neonopolis complex which covers the opening of both a new art museum and the move of Star Trek the Experience.  Rohit Joshi, a representative for the owners of Neonoplis is quoted staying:

The museum and the arts center will represent the past and the present and the Star Trek Experience will represent the future.

There are no specific details yet, but the article states that all five components of the Experience will be moving over:

• Restaurant/Bar
• Shops
• Museum of the Future
• 4-D Theater
• Simulator rides

The article notes that the Experience will be “similar but different from its predecessor and includes significant upgrades.” This is a welcome sign, as noted in previous reports from TrekMovie, The Experience at the Hilton was becoming less relevant to the entire Trek franchise, especially regarding The Original Series and the new Star Trek movie.

What isn’t clear is what will be upgraded. For example will the 4-D theater still be based around the VoyagerStar Trek movie in May. themed ‘Borg Invasion’ or will they have something new. One source told TrekMovie that the simulator rides will continue to feature the TNG-themed Klingon Encounter, but new footage will be added (replacing the part where the shuttle lands at the Hilton to where it lands at Neonopolis). Sources also indicate that Quark’s Bar and Restaurant and the ‘Promenade’ shops will be part of the move and likely the first elements to open. The plan is to open these before the

Regarding the ‘cast’ of characters, it is expected those who were let go when The Experience closed at the Hilton will be offered positions before auditions begin to bring on new staff.

TrekMovie has contacted Mr. Joshi and Neonopolis and will hopefully have an update on the future of Star Trek The Experience coming up soon. To date, CBS will not comment on Star Trek The Experience, so it is likely that details are still being worked out.